[open post - dream big]

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe does not need to sleep every night, and at home he is too busy to do so. But there is less to do here, and he grows bored in the nighttime when there is no chance of seeing any of the few people he likes. And Nina must not have any nightmares on his watch.

He curls up on his bed now, enduring the ache he always feels to be in it alone. Sleeping alone is one of the things he most despises. The only saving grace is that his powers let him make himself sleep instantly. In his youth, he often ended up fighting his thoughts for hours in place of sleep, even when physically exhausted. He wishes Shen Yuan were here, or if not, perhaps Sagramore—not to do anything that would disrespect Shen Yuan, but just to warm Luo Binghe's bed with his presence. But he would prefer almost anyone in the mansion over no one.

He ignores this customary melancholy and forces himself to sleep. He will first check on Nina, to guide her mind towards its best dreams without intruding, as he promised. After that, all dream paths are open to him.

[If you'd like a Luo Binghe dream visitation, please comment with how and where your character is sleeping, and perhaps what might be on their mind. If Luo Binghe does not know the character well, the dream will be more generic. However, he can read thoughts and memories, so feel free to DM the typist if there's anything you'd like Binghe to pick up on. Sweet dreams!]

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[protagonisthalo]

"My love," Luo Binghe says, a bit desperate. "I am unskilled at dealing with pain. To endure it is the only advice I have. If it were me—" He would bury it until he lashed out at whoever was closest to him, or find someone to share his bed so he could stop thinking. "All I can say is that amassing one hundred and seven more boyfriends would not help as much as you might think."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan bursts out laughing. He shakes with it, knocking his head against Luo Binghe's collarbone, hands clutching at his ribs, then flops over onto his back so he can giggle at the ceiling until it plays itself out with a hysterical little hiccup. "Just as well," he says, finally, out of breath. "I'd have a hard time finding that many boys who want to date me, anyway."

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe rolls over and throws his arm over Shen Yuan's torso, reversing their positions by burying his face in Shen Yuan's shirt. Shen Yuan's heart beats reassuringly against his cheek. It is a relief to hear Shen Yuan laugh, but he still feels shaky, like in the aftermath of a battle, when his body cannot quite believe it is not still being attacked. "Anyone would want to date you," he says, slightly muffled. "Especially if they saw your other body. I imagine your parents were flooded with marriage offers."

[peaklordshen]

"You're sweet," says Shen Yuan, fondly, winding one hand into Binghe's hair. "But--that's not really how it works, in my world, and--no, I told you, I'd never." He clears his throat. "Been on a date, or anything. You're the first person who's ever been interested--" he stops, as he realizes that's not, exactly, true.

[protagonisthalo]

If Luo Binghe thought this were true, it would scare him—he wants Shen Yuan to choose him over everyone else in the world, not simply because Luo Binghe is the only one interested. But he cannot imagine it to be true, so he just makes a noncommittal noise and burrows a little deeper into Shen Yuan's shirt, still tense and anxious.

Shen Yuan may be distracted for the moment, but what he's grieving is irresolvable—at least for the moment. It makes sense that Shen Yuan never thought he could return, after dying and being transported to a new world, but given the circumstances, Luo Binghe isn't so certain. If they find a way to leave here, and their original worlds are open to them, isn't there a possibility that Shen Yuan's true world could be an option too? Or if they return to Luo Binghe's palace as planned, does not Xin Mo have the power to traverse dimensions? Luo Binghe couldn't make it work, when he was trying to return to the world with Nice Shen Qingqiu, but it is not impossible. But he will keep this to himself for now—they do not even know if they might ever leave the Mansion.

For now, Shen Yuan will continue grieving, and Luo Binghe is unsuited to help. He is made for war and seduction, meant to care for people by slaying their enemies or taking them to bed. He is not a naturally patient or gentle person, and he hardly knows how to have the kind of relationship he wants with Shen Yuan. Before he met Shen Yuan, he didn't even know to want it. Shen Yuan is the most important person in any reality, and Luo Binghe is so, so afraid of disappointing him.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan blinks himself out of thinking about the one other time anyone had expressed interest in him¹ and runs the hand not in Binghe's hair down his spine, trying to soothe some of the obvious tension from his shoulders. "Sweetheart. It's okay. I'm okay." He presses a kiss to Binghe's hairline. "It's like you said. I can live with it, clearly."

¹ That's right, we are once again referring to Shen Yuan's Only Pre-Canon Kiss in the vaguest possible terms. Maybe one day he'll actually tell this story.

[protagonisthalo]

Hearing his own pathetic counsel repeated back to him is depressing. Shen Yuan should not have to live like Luo Binghe: consumed by pain, and only able to make choices based on whatever seems likely to reduce it for a moment. But there is no benefit to worrying him, so Luo Binghe allows himself to relax into Shen Yuan's touch. "Mm. It's late, you should still sleep more. I can make sure it is restful and dreamless, as I said." He draws back from Shen Yuan's chest just far enough to peek up at him. "Or I could manifest your Bulbasaur, if you want."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan gazes down into Binghe's big, beautiful eyes. He looks so sweet, his chin nestled against Shen Yuan's chest, his arms around him; the demon mark on his forehead glowing, softly, in the darkness. Shen Yuan bends to kiss him right between the adorably quirked and concerned eyebrows. "I think just sleep," he says, softly. "But—another time, please?" What a wonderful privilege, that Binghe could give him a Bulbasaur dream whenever he wanted.

[protagonisthalo]

"As you wish." Luo Binghe catches Shen Yuan's face with his hand before Shen Yuan can straighten, and kisses his cheek. Then he settles back against him and closes his eyes.

Selfishly, he waits a little before making himself sleep. It's just so good to be lying here in Shen Yuan's arms. If there is one thing he regrets about the last night they spent together—and there is just one thing, the rest was wonderful—it is that they fell asleep too quickly after. Luo Binghe was so content lying with Shen Yuan in the comfortable post-sex haze, just talking and teasing. He takes some time now to appreciate just being still together.

But he promised Shen Yuan rest. It is the work of a moment to make himself fall asleep, and then he reaches out his consciousness to soothe Shen Yuan's mind as well. He can't enter it while Shen Yuan is awake, but he can sense it racing and influence it to calm. Eventually it quiets, and Shen Yuan drifts into sleep. It will be deep and restorative.